Learning to Fly on the Fourth of July

Sitting In a lawn chair

soon to become a launch chair

on the the fourth,

with about a fifth

of what makes one add 

that sixth sense 

best known as inebriation.

>|<

Watching a friend

firing up a 12 shot

arial sky rocket 

chinese assembly with 

12 big explosive bursts 

after we had all been 

enjoying 

some blackjacks, 

jumping jacks

and Jack Daniels.

Suddenly due to

the placement

of this particuliar 

fireworks assembly 

on the edge of a drive, 

it fell sideways

with the first blast.

In an instant I was back

in a firefight

under bombardment

from all directions 

it seemed

with no cover.

Just a pair of 

non fireproof shorts 

and some truly inadequate 

flip-flops for ground fire.

to guard my fragile flesh.

Three of us sat frozen 

in shock and awe as 

the second burst

rocketed between my legs 

and then into the garage.

Then I yelled, Get up, Move, Run!!

and like Chickens with no heads 

we zig-zagged at drunken speeds

anywhere but out of the 

fireworks explosive paths.

All to no avail 

because they were 

going every which way

plus our way

since they were no longer

anchored by their flimsy 

cardboard platform.

Seven shots whizzed 

at close range by us, 

with one slamming into 

the porch steps

and richocheting back 

towards my friend Rick

who leaped and danced 

like a toothpick in heat,

to avoid the backlash.

Four more bangers 

went wild luckily 

because we didn't really 

have anyway to get out of the

path of each blast.

Lying down would 

have been stupid, 

and jumping in a timely fashion 

over the trails of flame 

required skills we had

reduced quite a bit by drinking.

it got very quiet 

and then we were 

all laughing at our

fortunate escape from 

third degree burns.

It could have won us

$10.000.00 dollars

on America's funniest 

home videos

or perhaps some 

unscheduled surgery 

to repair the holes 

burned in our flesh,

but neither was to be.

The camera was in 

a closet upstairs

and we all came out 

unscathed,

and undocumented 

in our stupidity.

We became a whole 

lot more careful

with the rest of 

our pyrotechniques.

We also checked for any fires in 

the garage or near the house

and went back to having a blast.

Some rather bizarre 

form of Hop-Scotch...

added to twelve shots 

we luckily didn't absorb,

and a little vodka with 

more than a twist or two...

but no burnout the next day.

See you next Fourth of July...LOL